Swivel connector



Oct. 20, 1942. K. a. DAFFo'RN Erm. 2,299,463

SWIVEL CONNECTOR Filed nay 7', 1941 2 sheets-sheet 1 Oct. 20, 1942. rg a. DAI-'PORN Erm. 2,299,458

' swIvEL coNNscToR Filed nay '7, 1941 v 2 sheets-snm 2 Patented Oct. 20, 1942 SWIVEL CONNECTOR Kenneth B. Dailorn and Russell l. Huffman- Dover, Ohio,

assignors to Knapp-Monarch Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation` oi.'

Missouri Application May 7, 1941, Serial No.v 392,322

3 Claims.

Our present invention relates to a swivel connector. for supply cords of sad irons or any type of electrical appliance.

One object of our invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive electrical connector which has a swivel feature permitting approximately 180 swiveling of a supply cord relative to the' appliance.

A further object is to provide a swivel connection in which electrical connection between the supply cord and the appliance is at all times efflciently maintained, regardless of the position to which the supply cord is swung with relation to the appliance, the device facilitating particularly the movement of a portable appliance, such as a sad iron, with respect to a supply cord outlet.

Another object is to provide a swivel connector which may be built into the base of a sad iron handle or the like, or may be made in the form of a supply cord plug adaptable for use in connection with any existing' type of appliance.

Still a further object is to provide a swivel connector wherein a pair of contact plates is provided for the supply cord and a second pair is provided for the electricity consuming device, balls and ball races of simple and inexpensive character being interposed between the first set of contact plates and the second set and effectively retained in position by a pivot bolt extending through the body member of the swivel connector. y

Still a further object is to provide a'swivel connector which has a body member formed of three parts, the center part swiveling with relation Vto the other two parts, which move as a unit, and the contact plates being embedded in the parts of the body member, with the balls and ball races interposed between them and all parts entirely enclosed by them.

With these and other objects in view, our invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of our device whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in our claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Although the invention is susceptible of a variety of embodiments, it is unnecessary to fully describe and illustrate more than one in order to give a full understanding of the invention both from its structural and of a sad iron showing our improved swivel connector mounted thereon;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectionalview on the line 2-2 of Figure l, showing a rear end elevation of the swivel connector;

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 2 showing the connector in section through the pivot;

Figure 411s a similar sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 3, showing a section at right angles to that taken in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a similar sectional view on the line 5--5 of Figure 3, showing a section at right angles to both Figure 3 and Figure 4;

Figure 6 Iis an exploded perspective view of the parts of our swivel connector;

Figure 7 is a side elevation of a modified form wherein the connector is in the form o! a supply cord plug, and

Figure 8 is a rear elevation of Figure 7, with one of the cover plates removed as along the line 8 8.

On the accompanying drawings, we have used the reference character S to indicate generally a sad iron, and C a connector therefor. The connector C is of swivel type, as will hereinafter be described.

The sad iron S has a sole plate I0 in which is embedded a heating element I2, The shell of the sad iron is indicated at I3 and the handle thereof at I4. The handle I4 has a socket I5 in the base thereof adapted to receive the connec- A cover plate I6 is provided for the socket I5. The cover plate is removable with respect to the socket. At its upper end, the cover plate coacts with a notch I'I in the handle I4 and a removable screw I8 is provided adjacent the lower end. The screw I8 is threaded in a bracket I9 of the shell I3.

Our socket connector has a body member formed of three parts indicated at 20, 2| and 22. These parts are preferably formed of insulating material and of the shape perhaps best shown in Figure 6. The parts 20 and 22 are substantially identical, each being provided with a counterbore 23. The counterbores 23 are adapted to receive washerlike contact plates 24 and 25,having functional standpoints. Accordingly, we have illustrated a preferred and desirable embodiment of the invention inthe accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of terminal extensions 26. The center part 2I of the body member is provided with counterbores 21 in each face thereof adapted to receive washerlike contact plates 28 and 29. The plates 28 and 29 are provided with terminal connections 30.

Between the plates 24 and 28, we provide a the rear portion ball race il, and between the plates 25 and 28 a similar ball race 32. Balls 34 are loosely located in perforations 35 of the ball races 3| and 32. y

Figure 6 shows the position of the body member parts, contact plates, ball races and balls with respect to each other, which parts appear as in Figures 3 and 4 when a pivot bolt 36 is extended through the following perforations: 3l in the member`22, 38 in the contact plate 25, 39 in the ball race 32, 4I) in the contact plate 29, 4| in the member 2|, 42 in the contact plate 28, 43 in the ball race 3|, 44 in the contact plate 24, and t5 in the member 20. A nut 46 is then placed on the bolt 36. The body parts and 22 are thereafter held inposition for simultaneous movement about the pivot bolt 36 by a bolt 4'I. The bolt 41 extends through a perforation 48 in the part 32 and into a threaded perforation 49 of the part 20.

The assembled parts of Figure 6 are supported with relation to the socket I5 by the pivot bolt 36 extending through a perforated ear 50 of the cover plate I6. The lower end of the bolt is located in a notobed'ear 5| of the cover plate.

At the sides of the socket I5, a pair of cover plates 52 are provided. These plates, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. have channel shaped, inturned flanges 53 defining a notch indicated at N (see Figure l) in the back of the handle I4. Our swivel `connector is adapted to swing in this notch to extreme positions. as shown by dotted lines in Figure 5. A channel shaped keeper 54 is mounted in the socket I5, bridging the channel shaped flanges 53 and contacting the ends of the pivot bolt 36.

The outer'end of one element of the body member consisting of the parts 20 and 22 is shaped to receive a reinforcing spring 55 for a supply cord 5B. The supply cord 56 is connected as by terminal screws 51 to the terminal ends 26 of the contact plates 24 and 25.

The heating element I2 of the sad iron is connected as by leads 58 to a pair of terminals 53, which in turn are connected by a pair of straps B0 and a pair of terminal screws 6I to the terminals of the contact plates 28 and 29.

In the modified construction shown in Figures '7 and 8, most of the parts of our swivel connector are identical to those already described, and accordingly are given similar reference numerals. A few parts are dilerent, such as will now be described.

The center part 2|a is made longer and is shaped to receive a pair of prong socket members Il'Ia therein. These are connected by the terminal screws 6I to terminal ends 3|)EL of the contact plates 28 and 29. The terminal ends 3|)a are somewhat longer and shaped to accommodate the socket members 60".

The elongated lower end of the center body member 2| is provided with a pair of coverl plates 62. These are retained in position as by screws 63. The prong sockets ISI)a are adaptedl to receive prongs 59' of an ordinary tvpe of sad iron, indicated generally at S' in Figure 7. Thus, our swivel connector may be either built into the appliance or provided as a plug on the supply cord for use in connection with existing types of appliances.

We believe the foregoing description makes the assembly and operation of our device obvious. Whenever it is desirable to renew any 'of the parts, the screw I8 may be removed so that the cover plate I6 may be removed and the connector disassembled by removing the screws and 4l'. During operation, the balls 345 in the ball races serve as a positive and continuous electrical connection between the outer contact plates and the inner contact plates. Since a plurality of balls are provided, there is always assuranceof electrical contact, even when the parts are slightly loosened. If desired, a spring washer 64 may be used on the bolt 35 to insure proper Contact of the balls and contact plates at all times.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of our device Without departing from the real spirit and purpose of our invention, and it is out intention to cover by our claims any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope Without sacrificing any of the' advantages thereof.

We claim as our invention:

1. A swivel connector for an iron cord or the like comprising a three-part body member. each of said parts being formed of insulating material and said parts being assembled in superposed relation, a contact plate embedded in the inner face of each of the outer parts, third and fourth Contact plates embedded in opposite faces of the central part, a ball race interposed betweenv one of said first contact plates and said third contact plate, a second ball race interposed between the other of said first contact plates and said fourth contact plate, balls carried by said ball races and electrically bridging said first contact plates with respect to said vthird and fourth Contact plates, means for retaining the foregoing parts assembled comprising a bolt through the center of said contact plates and ball races, supply and feed electrical connections with said first contact plates and with said third and fourth contact plates, and means for mounting said swivel connector in a socket of an iron handle comprising a cover plate for thefsocket having portions extending into the socket and coacting with said bolt on opposite sides of said connector.

2. A swivel connector for an iron cord or the like comprising a three-part body member, said parts being assembled in superposed relation, a contact plate on the inner face of each of the outer parts, third and fourth contact plates on opposite faces of the central part, balls interposed between one of said first contact plates and said third contact plate, balls interposed between the other of said first contact plates and said fourth contact plate, means for retaining f the foregoing parts assembled comprising an element through the three parts'at the center of said contact plates, means to retain said outer two parts assembled as a unit against rotation relative to each other, means for supporting said swivel connector in a notch of an iron handle comprising a cover plate for the notch and having ears extending into the notch to receive said element, and a keeper in the notch and contacting the ends of said element.

3. A swivel connector for a supply cord comprising a thrSe-part body member, said parts being assembled in superposed relation, a washerlike contact plate embedded in the inner face of interposed between the. other of said first contact plates and said fourth contact plate, a pair of supply and a pair of feed electrical connections, one pair being connected with the terminal strips of said first contact plates and the other pair being connected with said third and fourth contact plates, and means for supporting said swivel connector in a socket and having ears extending into the socket and engaging said swivel connector .to locate it with respect to the socket.

KENNETHB. DAFFORN.A RUSSELL I. HUFFMAN. 

